Swing construction



May 29, J GOFF SWING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 15, 1932 FIG. I

INVENTOR JESS GOFF TORNEY Patented May 29, 1934 UNITE STATES ATE FHCE SWING CONSTRUCTION Jess Goff, San Diego, Caliii, assignor of one-half to William J. Perry, San Diego, Calif.

Application August 13, 1932, Serial No. 628,714

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a swing construction wherein means to oscillate the swing are provided which are accessible to the occupant of the swing.

More particularly the present invention relates to an improvement in a swing construction, the parent application of which was filed March 4,

1932; Serial No. 595,701.

The swing provided by this invention may be used by adults as well as children, but it is more particularly intended as a means for amusing children and at the same time providing them with healthful exercise.

results in an accident occurring.

The means for manually oscillating the swing, which is provided by this invention, may, if desired, be applied to a trapeze used by circus performers to aid them in leaping from one swinging device to another or performing thrilling aerial feats.

An object of the present invention is to provide means accessible to the occupant of a swing whereby the swing and its occupant may be oscillated from a state of rest without the aid of any outside source.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means accessible to the occupant of a swing whereby the swing together with the occupant may be brought quickly to a state of rest without the aid of any outside source.

By reason of these objects, the swing is adapted for the amusement of children and adults who are handicapped physically and who will find solace and safe amusing pleasure through its use that they otherwise might not be able to enjoy.

Yet, still other objects, advantages and features of the invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the means whereby I effectively attain the objects set forth in the invention.

Fig. 1 isa front elevation of the device, a part of the left hand portion thereof being broken away to conserve space.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the upper portion of the device with some of the parts broken away to show underlying structure.

This

upper portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

and 4, to sustain the swing proper, which will now be described.

The swing proper is suspended from the hanger plates 11. The members 6 are preferably inclined somewhat towards each other, and it is desirable that the body portions of said hanger plates extend vertically. Each of said plates is provided at its lower end with an outwardly directed flange 12 which abuts against the inner side of the adjacent upright member when the plate 11 is bolted to the upright member by means of the bolts 13 and 14. Each of the hanger plates 11 has an inwardly bent top portion 15 which terminates in a downwardly directed flange 16.

Each of the suspending connections 17, which are provided to support the seat member 8, preferably consist of a rigid bar, but it is only essential that the upper portions of the connection 17 be rigid in order that they may be effectively oscillated by the oscillating means presently to be described.

Sll

The rigid upper portion of each suspending con- 16 and having secured to them the pinion gears 21 which mesh with the segmental gears 19.

To each end portion of the rock shaft preferably just inside the flanges 16, is also secured an operating arm or lever 22 of a swinging or pendulous character.

The operating lever is provided with an eye 23 V adjacent its hub portion and its free end terminates into a forked extremity 24 which is directed outwardly at an angle with the vertical.

There is also provided a groove 25 leading from the forked extremity back part way on the underside of the lever.

To the eye 23 is fastened one end of the operating cord 26 which in turn is directed over the fork so as to maintain the cord at an angle with the vertical and secured to an operating sleeve 27 which is slidably mounted upon the suspending connection 17 at a point where it may be conveniently grasped by the occupant of the swing.

The fork of the lever makes underneath curvilineal contact with the operating cord and manually exerting a pull on the sleeve and cord rocks the shaft 20 so as to cause an oscillation of the suspending connection 17 thru the medium of the gear 19 and pinion 21.

As the swing and its occupant gain impetus, the operating cord will ride in the groove as the occupant swings rearwardly as dottedly shown in Fig. 2, and when the occupant swings forwardly the operating cord is released from the fork of the lever entirely. This position is also indicated in the latter figure. Thus during the forward movement of the swing or during approximately the extent of swing of the occupant on the forward side of the mean position, the hands of the occupant will idle.

As the fork of the lever makes underneath con tact with the operating cord, sufiicient pull can be manually exerted on the operating sleeves to effectively decelerate the swing of the occupant.

It will therefore be clear that when the swing is in the maximum forward position and a pull is exerted on the operating sleeves and cord how the operating lever may be made to rock the shaft to cause the pinion to exert a torque on the gear to accelerate the movement of the suspending connections and the occupant occupying the seat of the swing.

Now referring to preferred details of construction, each suspending connection 17 is shown as a rod which is provided with a screw threaded portion at its lower end where it passes through said member 8, an upper nut 28 and a lower nut 29 being screwed onto said rod to keep the seat member in place. By this means the height of the seat can be regulated to a considerable extent.

Each of the operating sleeves 27 is shown provided near its upper end with an apertured ear 30 into which the lower end of the operating cord 26 is fastened.

The brackets 11, when mounted in their operative positions appear as inverted U-shaped plates the limbs of which extend vertically and substantially parallel to each other, thus providing, not only supports for the suspending means but guides wherein the heads 18 and segmental gears 19 have a working fit and also keep gears 19 in proper mesh with the pinion gears 21.

A description will now be given of the alternate mounting of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the latter figures the device is shown suspended from a gas pipe 31, such a support being adapted for use in mounting a battery of swings as for example in an amusement or recreation park.

This particular mounting consists in the union of a pair of guide or hanger plates 32, by a bolt 33, so as to form a guide space wherein is mounted the gear mechanism of the device.

Onto the bolt 33 is mounted the gear 19, however in the alternate mounting this gear is not segmentally shown. To said gear is fastened the suspending connection 17 by means of the rivet pins 34. The pinion 21, shaft 20, lever 22 and remainder of the construction is mounted to the inside guide plate similarly to the manner in which the device already described was mounted to the flange 16.

Each suspending portion of the device is mounted to the gas pipe aforesaid by means of a pair of clasp brackets 35 which are joined together by means of the bolt 36. Said brackets in turn being secured to the guide plates by means of the connecting pins 3'7.

In operating the swing, the occupant of the seat 8 will grasp the sleeves 27 with the hands thereby maintaining his or her balance upon the seat. Then by exerting a pull on the sleeves 2'7 will start oscillating the swing by means of the operating connections 26. As the swing begins to oscillate the guide sleeves will begin to reciprocate upon the connections 17. This reciprocation of the sleeves is due to the fact that the operating arms make contact with the operating cords 26 when said cords are in the vertical position and will continue to do so during the extent of the swing of the occupant on the forward side of the mean position.

Exerting a pull on the cord from the mean position forwardly creates a breaking power, and exerting a pull on the cord from the extreme forward position to mean position accelerates movement of the device. It is therefore evident that if the occupant applies a pull on the sleeves 27 H at the proper time, the movement of the swing will be accelerated or decelerated as desired.

I claim:

1. In a swing, in combination, a seat member, a support, suspending means for said seat memits her mounted on said support, a transversely extending shaft mounted upon said support, said suspending means being rockingly mounted above said shaft, a gear member mounted above said shaft, said gear member being fixed to said sus- I pending means, a pinion gear mounted upon said shaft and in mesh with said gear member, a lever connected to said shaft to operate said pinion gear, and a manually operable connection unitable with said lever and extending down therefrom to a point accessible to the occupant of the swing for the purpose of oscillating the swing. 2. In a swing construction, in combination, a supporting frame comprising uprights spaced apart from each other to receive the swing prop- I mounted upon said pivot bolt and having a head, i a gear element secured to said head and pro-' vided with gear teeth at a point below said pivot bolt, a substantially horizontal rock shaft mounted on said plates below said gear teeth,

saidshaft having fixed thereto a pinion gear the teeth of which are in mesh with the teeth of the first recited gear element, and means manually operable from points adjacent to the seat of the swing to rock said shaft.

3. In a swing construction, a bracket having two downwardly directed limbs in spaced relation to each other, an upright, means to secure said bracket to said upright, said securing means includinga bolt which extends through both limbs of said bracket, a seat member, and suspending means for said seat member, said suspending means being supported by said bolt between the limbs of said bracket.

4. In a swing construction, a supporting frame having at its sides upright which are inclined towards each other, brackets consisting of plates having two downwardly directed limbs in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other, and means to secure said brackets to the inner sides of said uprights, each of said brackets having at the lower end of one of its limbs an outwardly directed flange to abut against the upright and thereby maintain said bracket in a substantially vertical position when it is secured to said upright.

5. In combination, a pair of uprights, hanger plates secured to the inner sides of said uprights, each of said plates consisting of an inverted U-shaped member the limbs of which are substantially parallel to each other, a seat member, suspending connections for said seat member having rigid upper portions, a driven gear within each of said U-shaped members and secured to the side of said connection which is opposite to each upright, means extending through said driven gear and the adjacent portion of said connection to pendulously support the seat member, a pinion gear meshing with said driven gear below the pivotal mounting thereof, said pinion gear, driven gear and the adjacent portion of the seat suspending means being mount ed between and guided in their movements by the limbs of the plate at that side of the swing, a shaft to which said pinion gear is secured, each end of said shaft having a bearing within a limb of said plate, and means accessible to the occupant of the seat to oscillate said shaft.

6. In a swing, in combination, a seat member, a support, suspending means for said seat member mounted on said support, a transversely extending shaft mounted upon said support, said suspending means being rockingly mounted above said shaft, a gear mounted on said support above said shaft, said gear being operatively connected to said suspending means, a pinion mounted upon said shaft and in mesh with said gear, a manually operable cord extending from the top portion of the swing to points accessible to the occupant of the swing and a lever rigidly mounted upon said shaft and having contact with said cord.

'7. In a swing construction, a bracket having two downwardly directed limbs in spaced relation to each other, a support, means to secure said bracket to said support, said securing means in cluding a bolt which extends through both limbs of said bracket, a seat member, and suspending means for said seat member, said suspending means being supported by said bolt between the limbs of said bracket.

8. In a swing, in combination, a support, suspending means having a seat suspended thereby, a gear fastened to said means and mounted upon said support, a shaft mounted upon said support, a pinion fixed to said shaft and meshing with said gear, and means to rock said shaft, the last recited means including a pendulous lever rigid- 1y secured to said shaft and having a forked lower extremity extending forwardly and in the plane of swing of said pendulous lever, and a flexible operating member made fast to an upward extension of said lever and extending downwardly into the line of swing of said pendulous lever to normally engage with said forked extremity, said flexible member being further extended downwardly to a point adjacent said seat and accessible to the occupant of the aforementioned seat.

9. In a swing construction, a support, a seat member, suspending means for said seat member whereby it is suspended from said support, and mechanism mounted on said support and connected with said suspending means to oscillate the latter together with said seat member, said mechanism including an arcuated penduleus operating lever having a groove along its convex side and being provided at its lower end with a fork to the center of which said groove leads, and an operating connection for said lever, said connection having an upper portion secured to said support, a lower portion accessible to the 29 occupant of the swing for the purpose of oscillating the swing and an intermediate portion which alines with the fork and grooved portion of said lever to cooperate therewith.

JESS GOFF. 

